# Auzaar (औज़ार)
**Auzaar** (औज़ार; also rendered Auzzar, meaning "The Weapon") is a 1997 Indian Hindi-language action thriller directed by [Sohail Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/sohail-khan) in his directorial debut, starring [Salman Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/salman-khan), Sanjay Kapoor, and [Shilpa Shetty](https://www.edgepedia.org/shilpa-shetty), and produced by Ramesh S. Taurani and Kumar S. Taurani for Tips Films.[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118660/) • [2](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/cast_crew.php?movieid=2702) • [3](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/amp/news/features/exclusive-ramesh-taurani-looks-back-29-year-journey-producer-clarifies-sanjay-kapoors-claim-salman-khans-prominence-auzaar-posters-never-planne/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | 28 February 1997 (India); premiered in Bombay at Maratha Mandir and 18 other cinemas through R.G. International[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118660/) • [4](https://filminformation.com/featured/flashback-25-february-2022-from-our-issue-dated-1st-march-1997/) |
| Director / story | Sohail Khan, in his directorial debut; story and screenplay by Sohail Khan, dialogues by Anwar Khan[2](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/cast_crew.php?movieid=2702) • [5](https://www.rediff.com/movies/2002/jul/27sohail.htm) |
| Lead cast | Salman Khan as Suraj Prakash, Sanjay Kapoor as Yash Thakur, Shilpa Shetty as Prathna Thakur[2](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/cast_crew.php?movieid=2702) |
| Music | Anu Malik; lyrics by Ila Arun, Qateel Shifai, Rahat Indori, and Anu Malik[2](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/cast_crew.php?movieid=2702) |
| Production | Tips Films Pvt. Ltd.; Tips' first full-fledged solo production[3](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/amp/news/features/exclusive-ramesh-taurani-looks-back-29-year-journey-producer-clarifies-sanjay-kapoors-claim-salman-khans-prominence-auzaar-posters-never-planne/) |
| Censorship | Indian certificate U/A dated 14 February 1997; Australian Classification rated it MA 15+ (medium level violence) on 4 March 1997[6](https://cinemaazi.com/film/auzaar) • [7](https://www.classification.gov.au/titles/auzaar) |
| Reception | IMDb rating 4.6/10 from about 1,300 users; contemporary trade review called it a routine film carried by action and music[8](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118660/ratings/) • [4](https://filminformation.com/featured/flashback-25-february-2022-from-our-issue-dated-1st-march-1997/) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
The film follows two inseparable college friends, Suraj Prakash (Salman Khan) and Yash Thakur ([Sanjay Kapoor](https://www.edgepedia.org/sanjay-kapoor)), who take opposite paths after their education: Suraj becomes a CBI officer while Yash takes over his father's illegal business.[9](https://www.shemaroome.com/short-films/auzaar) In the trade summary, the don's son Yash has murdered another don, and the murdered don's son Baba ([Nirmal Pandey](https://www.edgepedia.org/nirmal-pandey)) seeks to wipe out his father's killer and his entire family; Suraj comes to his friend's rescue, and together the two kill the villain.[4](https://filminformation.com/featured/flashback-25-february-2022-from-our-issue-dated-1st-march-1997/) Streaming syntheses describe the conflict as Suraj being assigned to investigate the mafia and discovering his friend's involvement.[9](https://www.shemaroome.com/short-films/auzaar) Prathna (Shilpa Shetty) is the woman both friends pursue in college; the supporting cast includes [Paresh Rawal](https://www.edgepedia.org/paresh-rawal) as Yash's father Mr. Thakur, Kiran Kumar as Bhaiji, Johny Lever as Peter, Aashif Sheikh as Inspector Bhutey, and Jeetu Verma as Jai Thakur.[6](https://cinemaazi.com/film/auzaar) • [10](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118660/fullcredits/)
## Production
**A debut and a company milestone.** Sohail Khan was 21 when he made Auzaar, his first film; he later said he had been influenced by hardcore, fast-paced American action films and took the opportunity when it came.[5](https://www.rediff.com/movies/2002/jul/27sohail.htm) • [11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CtWHfmkcyE) For producer Ramesh Taurani, it was Tips Films' first film produced solely by the company, after five earlier joint ventures (Coolie No 1, [Raja Hindustani](https://www.edgepedia.org/raja-hindustani), Beqabu, Haqeeqat, and Jeet).[3](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/amp/news/features/exclusive-ramesh-taurani-looks-back-29-year-journey-producer-clarifies-sanjay-kapoors-claim-salman-khans-prominence-auzaar-posters-never-planne/) Salman Khan, Sohail's brother, played the lead; The Quint notes Salman acted in his brother Sohail's films Auzaar (1997) and Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya (1998).[12](https://www.thequint.com/entertainment/exclusive-birthday-boy-salim-khan-on-life-and-learnings)
The crew included cinematographer Kaka Thakur, editor A. Muthu, art director R. Verman, and action director Mahendra Verma; choreographers included [Ganesh Acharya](https://www.edgepedia.org/ganesh-acharya), Ahmed Khan, Raju Khan, and [Raju Sundaram](https://www.edgepedia.org/raju-sundaram).[6](https://cinemaazi.com/film/auzaar) • [10](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118660/fullcredits/) Shooting took place at [Annapurna Studios](https://www.edgepedia.org/annapurna-studios), Mehboob Studios, Natraj Studios, Filmistan, Chandivali, Filmcity, and outdoor locations.[6](https://cinemaazi.com/film/auzaar) The Indian censor certificate, dated 14 February 1997, records 16 reels and a length of 4,215 meters.[6](https://cinemaazi.com/film/auzaar)
## Music
[Anu Malik](https://www.edgepedia.org/anu-malik) composed the songs, with lyrics credited to [Ila Arun](https://www.edgepedia.org/ila-arun), Qateel Shifai, Rahat Indori, and Anu Malik.[2](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/cast_crew.php?movieid=2702) The trade review singled out "Masti ka aalam aaya hai", "I love you", "Chalte chalte mila ladka deewana", and "Dhoondhte reh jaaoge" as extremely well-tuned numbers, with the picturisation of "Masti ka aalam" the most mass-appealing.[4](https://filminformation.com/featured/flashback-25-february-2022-from-our-issue-dated-1st-march-1997/) According to IMDb trivia, the song "Dil De De Dena" was inspired by "Macarena" by Los Del Rio.[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118660/)
## Reception
The contemporary Film Information review found nothing new in the story and called the screenplay, especially the slow first half, routine, but credited the film's appeal to the action, particularly the lengthy climax, the racy music, the song picturisations, and the big canvas.[4](https://filminformation.com/featured/flashback-25-february-2022-from-our-issue-dated-1st-march-1997/) It judged Sohail Khan's direction fair for a debut effort but said more concentration on writing was needed, and praised Nirmal Pandey as the film's surprise packet.[4](https://filminformation.com/featured/flashback-25-february-2022-from-our-issue-dated-1st-march-1997/) Commercially, the review reported a good opening in Bombay, excellent in Delhi-U.P. and [Rajasthan](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajasthan), and very good elsewhere except the C.I. circuit, concluding the film had the initial value, action, and music to sail safe in the majority of circuits.[4](https://filminformation.com/featured/flashback-25-february-2022-from-our-issue-dated-1st-march-1997/) Tips promoted the release in Bombay with a rally of uniformed motorcyclists flagged off by Salman Khan, alongside a cinema contest with over 10,000 prizes.[4](https://filminformation.com/featured/flashback-25-february-2022-from-our-issue-dated-1st-march-1997/)
Later aggregate scores have been modest: IMDb records 4.6/10 from about 1,300 users (unweighted mean 5.6), and Rotten Tomatoes shows a 22% Popcornmeter audience score with no critic reviews counted.[8](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118660/ratings/) • [13](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/auzaar) A 2024 [Letterboxd](https://www.edgepedia.org/letterboxd) review described it as a clichéd two-hero 1990s Bollywood film in which Salman Khan shines most.[14](https://embed.letterboxd.com/aishanshetty/film/auzaar/)
## Runtime and availability
Sources disagree on the film's length: IMDb lists 2h 7m (127 min), [JustWatch](https://www.edgepedia.org/justwatch) and Blu-ray.com list 133 min, Rotten Tomatoes 2h 10m, Box Office India 140 min, and the Australian Classification record 159 minutes.[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118660/) • [15](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/auzaar) • [13](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/auzaar) • [2](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/cast_crew.php?movieid=2702) • [7](https://www.classification.gov.au/titles/auzaar) The film has circulated on home video and streaming through Shemaroo Entertainment; as of the most recent checks it streams free with ads on Tubi TV and Fawesome in the United States and on ShemarooMe in India.[15](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/auzaar) • [16](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/auzaar)
## References
1. [Auzaar (1997), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118660/)
2. [Auzaar, Box Office India cast and crew](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/cast_crew.php?movieid=2702)
3. [Ramesh Taurani looks back at his 29-year journey as a producer, Bollywood Hungama (2024)](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/amp/news/features/exclusive-ramesh-taurani-looks-back-29-year-journey-producer-clarifies-sanjay-kapoors-claim-salman-khans-prominence-auzaar-posters-never-planne/)
4. [Flashback: Film Information, issue dated 1 March 1997](https://filminformation.com/featured/flashback-25-february-2022-from-our-issue-dated-1st-march-1997/)
5. [Filmmaker Sohail Khan on Maine Dil Tujhko Diya, Rediff.com (2002)](https://www.rediff.com/movies/2002/jul/27sohail.htm)
6. [Auzaar (1997), Cinemaazi movie details](https://cinemaazi.com/film/auzaar)
7. [AUZAAR, Australian Classification](https://www.classification.gov.au/titles/auzaar)
8. [Auzaar (1997) Ratings, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118660/ratings/)
9. [Auzaar, ShemarooMe](https://www.shemaroome.com/short-films/auzaar)
10. [Auzaar (1997) Full cast and crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118660/fullcredits/)
11. [Sohail Khan talks about his directorial debut Auzaar, WildFilmsIndia (2019)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CtWHfmkcyE)
12. [Exclusive: Birthday Boy Salim Khan on Life and Learnings, The Quint](https://www.thequint.com/entertainment/exclusive-birthday-boy-salim-khan-on-life-and-learnings)
13. [Auzaar, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/auzaar)
14. [Auzaar review by Aishan Shetty, Letterboxd (2024)](https://embed.letterboxd.com/aishanshetty/film/auzaar/)
15. [Auzaar streaming: where to watch online (US), JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/auzaar)
16. [Auzaar streaming: where to watch online (India), JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/auzaar)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Hindi films of the 1990s › Action and thriller films › Released 1996 to 1999*
*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license